ABSTRACT
Adopting a global perspective and drawing on extensive field research conducted over several years by the author in conflict-affected West Africa and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, this chapter examines the vital role radio plays in empowering women in these areas. It demonstrates how radio raises women’s self-esteem, triggers shifts in consciousness and also contributes to changing society’s perception of women and what they can achieve. Women need regular, targeted, and relevant information to gain greater recognition for their contribution to society and to become empowered within their communities. Radio is often their main source of information, and it can make significant contributions to women’s empowerment, allowing female listeners to acquire greater awareness of the contexts in which they live and the choices that are available to them.
